Private Outsourcing of Police Services

I'm not sold on the idea of outsourcing Fullerton's police services to a private company but we do need to look at all of our options. 

U.S. Dept. of Justice email announces some details regarding the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

I'm not sure why the email was sent to me but I thought you might like to know what "progress" looks like 10 years after we watched the towers fall.  At the bottom is a link to a Youtube Video.  It is 26 minutes of pain and suffering.  Watch it and never forget...

Dear Friend,

I am writing to let you know that I have sent to the Federal Register the Final Rule governing the September 11^th Victim Compensation Fund. Since issuing the proposed regulations in June, I have met with hundreds of you at town halls in New York and New Jersey and reviewed the formal comments submitted in response to the proposed regulations. I am so grateful for and have benefited from having met so many of you and having heard your concerns and suggestions.

Based on your feedback, as well as further review of the best scientific and medical evidence that is available, I have made some changes to the regulations for the Final Rule. First among them, I have expanded the geographic zone recognized as a “9/11 crash site.” The proposed rule suggested that the term “9/11 crash site” included the area in Manhattan south of Reade Street – boundaries that were substantially broader than those used in the Fund’s first iteration. However, in light of the comments that were submitted, as well as further examination of the available evidence, the Final Rule expands the zone of geographic eligibility to include the area south of Canal Street. In addition to the dust that was present most heavily in the area south of Reade Street, there is also evidence suggesting that prolonged exposure to dust between Reade Street and Canal Street created a risk of physical harm. There are also substantial numbers of patients who live between Reade Street and Canal Street who are receiving treatment in the World Trade Center (WTC) Environmental Health Center program.

While there is evidence that the smoke plume from the site traveled beyond Manhattan south of Canal Street, the concentrations of contaminants in the smoke cloud were most intense within and very near Ground Zero. By the time the smoke cloud had reached other areas, such as Brooklyn, the particulate concentrations were significantly diluted. Thus, the initial zone of coverage will include the World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Shanksville sites; the buildings that were destroyed; the area south of Canal St. in lower Manhattan; and the routes of debris removal.

One area that has remained unchanged since the draft regulations involves the determination of which physical harms and deaths were “a result of” the crashes or debris removal within the meaning of the statute. The Rule requires the Fund to maintain and publish a list of presumptively covered conditions that resulted from the air crashes or debris removal. This list will consist of the physical injuries and conditions that are found, under the WTC Health Program, to be WTC-related health conditions. I will update this list so that it includes not only those physical conditions listed in Title I of the Zadroga Act, but also any additional physical conditions that the WTC Health Program subsequently determines to be WTC-related.

I know many of you will be disappointed by this decision; in particular, because it means that, at least at the beginning of the Fund’s operations, the Fund is not able to identify any particular type of cancer as a WTC-related condition. Congress, in drafting the Zadroga Act last year, did not include cancer in the list of illnesses and health conditions that experienced medical professionals have determined could be found to be substantially likely to have been aggravated, caused, or contributed to by exposure to conditions resulting from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Since that time, the first periodic review by the WTC Health Program Administrator similarly found insufficient scientific and medical evidence for adding cancer to the list of covered conditions. After considering all of the comments and the available scientific and medical evidence, I have decided that it is important, and consistent with the intentions of Congress, that I continue to rely on the medical judgment made by the WTC Health Program. While the Fund will evaluate new evidence as it becomes available, and will add to its list of presumptively covered conditions any physical injury condition that the WTC Health Program recognizes as WTC-related, the Final Rule will not add any additional conditions at this time.

Although exceptions can be made to this list of covered conditions, the rules require such exceptions only in extraordinary circumstances, and where the claimant satisfies other eligibility criteria, including presence at a 9/11 crash site.

The Final Rule contains other changes as well. For example, we have attempted to provide greater consistency with the WTC Health Program by adding additional forms of proof that may be used to establish eligibility. We have also clarified the types of fees and charges that would come within the caps on amounts that a claimant’s representative may charge in connection with a claim made to the Fund.

I encourage you to read the Final Rule in its entirety. I am placing the signed copy of the Final Rule that was submitted to the Federal Register on the Fund’s website, www.justice.gov/vcf. I expect the Rule to be published later this week, and we will put the official version on the website when that happens. The Rule will go into effect when the Fund opens its doors on Monday, October 3. Much more information, including detailed instructions on how to file a claim, will be made available at that time. In addition, we will continue to update the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of our website, www.justice.gov/vcf.  

I can’t promise that everyone will be satisfied with every decision that the Fund makes, but I do hope you feel that the process is fair, transparent, and easy to navigate. As I said when I was first appointed, as a lifelong New Yorker, the opportunity to serve the country and the 9/11 community in this way is a tremendous honor. I have been touched by how many of you have expressed appreciation or good wishes for the Fund’s operations.

Thank you for your continued faith and support. I look forward to meeting more of you, and to serving you the best that I can.

Yours,

Sheila

http://youtu.be/wNNTcHq5Tzk

Fullerton PD, it will get worse before it gets better

Just when you think things couldn't get worse for the Fullerton Police Department more police corruption is uncovered.

Acting Police Chief Captain Hamilton has ordered an internal affairs investigation into the arrest of Veth Mam.  Mam is the person who recorded Fullerton Police officer Kenton Hampton approach him.  Hampton is then seen smacking the cell phone to the ground.  Someone picks up the phone and continues to record Hampton attack Mam and then arrest him.

According to the Orange County Register "(Hamilton) became very concerned because upon initial investigation, it appears we may have arrested the wrong guy that night," Goodrich said. "During our examination of the video, it appears that Mam was not the person who assaulted the first officer earlier in the video, but that's what the investigation is going to look into."

Welcome to Fullerton.

If the story involved the LAPD or LA County Sheriffs it wouldn't be much of an indicator of the department since those departments have several thousand officers.  If you have 10 bad cops, you still have a great department.

Fullerton is blessed (or cursed) with 144 officers, including those on leave.  A rough count of the officers that have been implicated in recent months in various allegations of police corruption while on and off duty, both proven and unproven, indicates that about 10% of the sworn personnel could be tainted in some way.

And just to put the numbers in perspective, 10% of the LAPD would equal about 1,000 of the nearly 10,000 officers employed. 

Even if we cut the estimated percentage of Fullerton officers involved in some sort of misconduct to 5% of the department, it is still too high.

So, as the Fullerton PD tree is shaken even harder, how many more bad apples will fall?  Better yet, who will be left with their badge untarnished?  And most importantly, how high up the chain of command does the corruption run?  I hope recently hired consultant Michael Gennaco will be able to tell us sooner rather than later. 

What is the Fullerton Police Department trying to hide?

A couple of years a go I subscribed to the Orange PD's iWatch system because I teach at Santiago Canyon College and feel a duty to be informed and advise my students. 

When Fullerton PD unveiled their system a few months back at a council meeting I wanted to sign up immediately.

Since signing up, I have received a few dozen email alerts of crimes around Fullerton.  On the surface, they are supposed to keep residence aware of the issues in their neighborhoods.  Subscribers can click areas on a map and receive alerts attributed to that particular area. 

A few weeks ago I noticed something odd about the alerts.  All of them were crimes involving cars getting broken into.  In some instances the crimes were automotive vandalism. 

Missing from every single alert were crimes against people, or "crimes persons" as they are known to law enforcement. I went back and reviewed the emails just to make sure.  No, not one alert that involved a robbery, rape, assault, or any other crime against a person.  Why?

Seeking answers, I contacted the Fullerton Police Department's Public Information Officer, Sergeant Andrew Goodrich.  Goodrich said that crimes persons should be included in the alerts and suggested that there were no such crimes in the particular district I had subscribed to.  A quick check of my iWatch settings indicated that I had subscribed to all 39 areas!

Concerned that there was some filtering of data that eliminated reports of rapes and assaults, I asked Goodrich how specific crimes are chosen to be posted.  Here is his response:

"Our RSVPs (retired volunteers) search through a report that is generated specifically for iWatch, and then decide from that report which crimes to report on.  The criteria and direction I give them is to include crimes that they would want to know about if they lived in those neighborhoods.  Robberies and assaults are on this report that is generated.  I will look into why there haven’t been any reported lately, but that’s how we do what we do.

Andrew Goodrich

Sergeant – Community Services / Public Information Officer

Fullerton Police Department

agoodrich@fullertonpd.org

(714) 738-6838

(714) 525-3559 Fax"

There you have it; iWatch does not alert citizens to those crimes which involve people getting hurt. I suppose if people think that the only crimes being committed in Fullerton are car burglaries on the other end of town, they may feel their police department is doing just fine.

If you ever want to see just how lopsided the public reporting is, compare Fire Department service calls to Fullerton Police Department service calls.  The Fire Department openly reports their Downtown workload for paramedics while NOTHING is reported in the crime blotter.  (hat off to Fire Chief Knabe)

It's sad that we cannot trust our own Police Department to keep us informed. 

Fullerton City Council Meeting August 2, 2011

Holding Bars and Bartenders Responsible

It seems that a week doesn't go by without hearing about a drunk Downtown Fullerton patron killing someone after getting behind the wheel.

It is sad and preventable. 

The Fullerton Police Department keeps tabs on the bars by conducting "FIs" or field interrogations.  FIs occur when an officer makes contact with the public by stopping them for traffic violations, jay-walking, or simply loitering about.

One of the lines of questions they ask those they contact is where are they coming from and have they been drinking.  The suspects are encouraged to tell the officer which Downtown bar they came from and how many drinks they were served.  The officers document this information and compile it for future investigations. 

I first learned of this data and the process for obtaining it when Downtown Fullerton's Cherch Lounge was closed down for numerous flagrant violations.  It was the first time I had seen the City take a proactive role in holding bars responsible for their action.  

Too bad the bars aren't scrutinized more; perhaps other lives could be saved.

 

The California Business and Professions Code regulates alcohol sales and consumption throughout the state.  Two laws in particular can and should be applied to Fullerton's bars through stepped up enforcement.

25601.  Every licensee, or agent or employee of a licensee, who keeps, permits to be used, or suffers to be used, in conjunction with a licensed premises, any disorderly house or place in which people abide or to which people resort, to the disturbance of the neighborhood, or in which people abide or to which people resort for purposes which are injurious to the public morals, health, convenience, or safety, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

25602.  (a) Every person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold, furnished, or given away, any alcoholic beverage to any habitual or common drunkard or to any obviously intoxicated person is guilty of a misdemeanor.
   (b) No person who sells, furnishes, gives, or causes to be sold, furnished, or given away, any alcoholic beverage pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section shall be civilly liable to any injured person or the estate of such person for injuries inflicted on that person as a result of intoxication by the consumer of such alcoholic beverage.

Violent Night of Multiple Murders in Fullerton

OC Register: Police- 1 dead after shooting in Fullerton

FULLERTON – Police are investigating a shooting that left one man dead Thursday night, authorities said.

The shooting took place just after 9:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of West Williamson Avenue, near Commonwealth and Euclid, Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said.

An adult male was pronounced dead at the scene, Goodrich said. No other injuries were reported.

Click HERE to read more.

OC Register: 19-year-old killed while changing tire
FULLERTON – Police are asking for the public's help in finding two men who shot and killed a 19-year-old man in an alley Thursday night.

Fullerton police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich said Larry Ruiz was shot and killed at about 9:30 p.m. while changing a tire in an alley in the 1100 block of West Williamson Avenue.

Click HERE to read more.